Wedge-supporting block for axle-boxes.



I. B. ABRAHAM.

WEDGE SUPPORTING BLOCK FOR AXLE BOXES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1914.

1,1 33,082,- Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2,] wvenfoz of the driving boxes of locomotives, and

ISAAC B. ABRAHAM,

0F CHICAG-Q,

ILLZNOIS.

WEDGE-SUFPORTING BLOCK FOR AXLE-BOXES.

messe Application filed March 30,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Isaac B. ABRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in \Vedge- Supporting Blocks for Axle-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the improvement particularly to the provision of means for supporting the wedge of the driving or axle box against settlement due to vibration and stresses.

The lines of construction of locomotive driving or axle boxes have been fixed or standardized, as a result of extensive experience. But though the principles of construction for. such boxes have been given exhaustive consideration, and have been subjected to endless calculation, the records of the railroads show that the readjustments occurring in the driving or axle boxes while in actual every day use, results in serious accidents to the mechanism, and not infre quently results in serious accidents to persons carried by the locomotive or its-train of cars.

he driving or axle boxes are built in the pedestal legs which are rigidly or integrally connected to an upper and lower fra'me brace. Against one of the legs a shoe, sometimes termed a wedge, but not having the form or function of a wedge, is disposed; while against the opposite leg a wedge, in form and function, is disposed. The wedge is pro *ided to take up wear due to the vertical sliding movement of the axle box, and to protect the pedestal leg from wear. The wedge is adjusted to take up wearby means of a screw which projects vertically above the pedestal cap or binder, and which is held in position by nuts which are threaded against the upper and lower faces of the pedestal. cap or binder. Frequent oiling of the driving or axle box is required, and the effect of this oil isto lubricate the wedge adjusting screw, which works loose and against which the wedge vibrates and even pounds.

lharr found, as a. result of close shop study of locoi'notives and the conditions of practicai service, that the present means of suuporting the wedges of locomotive driving boxes rssuitsin the following:- 1. The sides of the jaw, or the pedestal Specification of Letters Patent.

- snapping oi the driver pin.

iatented Mar. 23, 1915 1914:. Serial N0. 828,411.

legs, are broken at their: point of connection with the frame brace '22. The axle or driving box wears oblong or convex and the wedge wears concave, thus. causing a rocking. The increased vibra on and pound ing results in the breaking of the connecting rod near the pin. 4. It also results in the 5. It also causes the driver to break near the axle.

, It also causes the wheel to climb the rail and to ditch the locomotive. Each of the above effects may he followed by smallor great injury to the locomotive, and small or great injury or loss of life.

To remedy the presentconditio s without requiring any material variation from the present practice, and without requiring the alteration of the lines of construction of the parts of the driving or axle boxes, is the leading object of my present invention.

Another objectof the invention is to provide means for supporting the wedge which is adapted to be adjusted, so as to give a positive support to the wedge and totake up wear. r

A still further -object of the invention is the provision of improved means for supporting'the wedge, which will have a positive, biting contact with the wedge and with the pedestal cap or binder.

With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which H Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the accepted manner of constructing the jaw and of securing the shoe and wedge in position. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the improved means for supporting the wedge against play and to prevent readjustments when once secured in position. Fig. 3 is a dctailperspective view showing the modified form of the invention, provided to render a single device adjustable to meet the.

conditions caused by the elevation of the.

is secured at its ends tothe lower brace 6 by means of the usual bolts 10. Against the pedestal leg 7 the usual shoe 11, sometimes termed a wedge, butnot having eitherthe form or function of 'a wedge, is secured. The wedge 12 is disposed. against the pedestal leg 8. I This wedge 12'is adjusted to take up wear by means of the adjusting screw or screws 13, which extends vertically through the pedestal cap or the binder, and which is held in position by the nut 13, which is threaded against the upper side of the cap or binder, and by the nut-13, which threaded against the lower side of thebinder. v

1 In the usual condition of affairs the wedge 12 is supportedby the screw 13, and this screw is subjected to' all the vibrations which are developed in the wedge. The pressure of the wedge against the screw, wl1ich-engages the wedge in sucha manner as to induce a rocking action, when the wedge has worn to some extent, promotes the play of the driving or axle box, and hastens The pedestal legs or the jaw of 4 through the vibrations the accidents to machine and man which follows from excessive play and vibration. the driving oxhave beenbroken away from the engine frame; the connecting rod has been broken away from the pin; the driver pin has been snapped off; the driver has been broken Znearthe axle;-' the box has been worn convex and the wedge and the shoe have-been worn concave, or dished through wear; and the practicalresult of these readjustmentsl and changes is to disable the locomotive, and to even lead to its jumping the rail, under the impulses and rocking action developed and pounding resulting from the against its adjusting screw and the increase ofiplay oi" the wedge, and axle box. 7

he present invention was designed to overcome the defects inherent in the present practice, without requiring that the accepted es of construction be altered.

, 11 carrying out my invention I provide a solid block 14, made of hard, highly tempered, metal,-such as high grade steel. This lock is substantially rectangular, and is large enough to neatly fit between the wedge screws. The vertical sides of the block 14 are formed smooth, but the upper and lower pedestal cap or binder.

sides are provided with a series of relative sharp teeth, which are adapted to have a iting contact with the wedge and with the Theteeth 14' are orinedby cutting the block .and are tempered so as to be considerably harder than the metal of the wedge or the pedestal cap.

After the wedge has been adjusted to the desired position a blockl l of a width just sufficient to snugly fit between the wedge and .the pedestal cap or binder is positioned on the nder or cap. The pressure] ofthe port the wedge against all pressure of the wedge wedge upon the teeth of the block 14 and the pressure transmitted through the block tonot be displaced.

As the block is made or very hard metal it will effectively resist all compression and vibration strains, and will. positively supdownward play, regardless of the screw -or screws employed for this purpose. Y

A number of blocks may be provided, each diiiering from the other by aslight gradual increase in width or height, so that when a given block becomes useless, owing to the elevation ofthe wedge to take up wear, an 'other block, which will be sufficiently high to safely'support the wedge. To accomplish this end I have also devised a prising a'lower' block slightly higher canbeused,

I sectional block, c0m-x section; 15, which hag." teeth 15 on its lower side for biting engages ment with the member which'it'is l d I against, and which is standing pins 15", other. A second block section 16 is rovided, which'is formed with teeth 16 on its provided with upupper side for biting engagement with the; This element it is placed in contact with. block section 16 is formed with sockets or spaced openings 16 adapted to receive the pins or studs 15! of the block section 15. By the interfitting engagement of the pins or studs 15" with the. openings or sockets in the block section 16 are securely unitedto form a solid block.

spaced apart from eachv the two block sections 1 In order to increase the height of the sectional'block I provide a series of shims 17-, which are adapted to match the inner faces of the block sections and are formedwith openings 17. through which the pins or studsv 15 may be inserted, whereby the shims may be'locked between the block sections. When it is desired to increase the height of the sectional block one or more of the shims, which are relatively thin and of hard metal, "are placed between the block sections and the sections are locked to each other by interfitting engagement of the pins and the sockets.

'It is apparent that teeth means having an equivalent interlocking action may be substituted for the teeth. It

maybe providedon only one side of the block, and thakany wedge and 

